How to Get The Best Possible Heat Printing Results

Can you spot the difference between these two heat printed caps?

Sometimes you need a little help from your friends, sometimes you need the right heat printing accessories. The picture shown here was posted on the Stahls’ ID Direct Facebook page and asked the question, what is the difference between these two caps? Many people commented on the post, pointing to probable causes for the shiny box around the cap on the left. It took me a second to notice it, but when you look closely, you can see that the cap on the left is a victim of “no cover sheet.” When applying the design on the left, no cover sheet was used. On the cap on the right, a Flexible Application Pad was used to protect the polyester performance hat. The Flexible Application Pad pulls out some of the heat when applied so it protects heat sensitive fabrics like this from leaving a “box”. When using this cover sheet, make sure to increase your application time as heat takes a little longer to get to the transfer. You can also use another type of cover sheet, but the Flexible Application pad is a good all purpose heat printing accessory that can be used in many situations. It’s made from a thin rubber silicone and can also be used to cover any item that has buttons, zippers, or snaps to avoid scratching the upper platen of your heat press.